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The Italian Football Federation has presided over the tributes to former Italian world champion Paolo Rossi, who died at the age of 64.
Former Juventus and AC Milan striker Rossi was instrumental in Italy’s 1982 World Cup triumph, finishing the tournament as the top scorer.
FIGC President Gabriele Gravina said in a statement on the official website of the governing body: “Pablito’s disappearance is another deep pain, a wound in the hearts of all fans, difficult to heal.
Hello Pablito, Blue Hero 💙 pic.twitter.com/sUyhd3q0LV
– National of Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Vivo_Azzurro) December 10, 2020
“We lose a friend and an icon, who dragged the team (1982 World Cup) to success with his goals, took an entire country by the hand, which rejoiced in the streets, for him and with him.
“He has inextricably linked his name to Azzurro and has inspired, with his style of play, many forwards of future generations.”
FIGC confirmed that the flags were at half mast at its headquarters in Allegri and its technical center in Coverciano.
His wife, Federica Cappelletti, shared a photo of the couple on Instagram with the caption “Per semper” (“forever”).
Juventus said Rossi would not only be remembered as a World Cup hero.
“He was the hero of an unforgettable World Cup for all of Italy, but for us he was much, much more,” said the Serie A champions on their official website.
“Paolo represents a lot to an entire nation of Juventus fans who celebrated with him in front of their televisions, week after week after week.
“And while those televisions gradually began to show the action in color, those special moments remained gloriously black and white for us.”
Goodbye Paolo https://t.co/XeLRpA5JeC pic.twitter.com/7bPuYlIYBA
– JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) December 10, 2020
Former Germany and Bayern Munich coach Jurgen Klinsmann also paid his respects on Twitter, writing: “Dear Pablito, we always remember you!”
Former club Vicenza posted on Twitter: “Sometimes there are simply no words to express the pain that we are all experiencing. Ciao Paolo ”.
UEFA confirmed that all Europa League matches on Thursday night would be preceded by “a moment of silence” in tribute to Rossi.
A moment of silence will be observed at all UEFA matches today, following the death of Italy’s World Cup hero Paolo Rossi.
Top scorer of the 1982 tournament, Rossi scored 20 goals in 48 games for the Azzurri.
– UEFA (@UEFA) December 10, 2020
Rossi scored a hat-trick against Brazil in the second group of the 1982 World Cup in Spain to help Italy reach the semi-finals.
He then scored both of Italy’s goals in their semi-final victory against Poland and their first match in the final, which they won 3-1 against West Germany.
Rossi was suspended for three years after being implicated in a match-fixing scandal in 1980, but he always maintained his innocence and his exile was reduced to two years on appeal.
He spent his entire club career in Italy, starting in Vicenza before moving on to Juventus, with which he won two Serie A titles and the 1984 European Cup. He also played for AC Milan and Verona.
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